Wire drawing machine



24, 19%.. R. c. PIERCE WIRE DRAWING MACHINE Filed Oct. 10, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l llllllllv.

A TTORNEYS.

mean 2. 194% c. PIERQE gyzzfifim WIRE DRAWING MACHINE Filed Oct. 10, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2- INVENTQR. I FOBER'T C P/ERCE A TTORNE Y.

Dec. 24, 1940. R. c. PIERCE 2,226,016

WIRE DRAWING MACHINE I 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 10, 1938 I N V EN TOR. R0551? T C I IERCE A TTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES WIRE DRAWING MACHINE Robert 0. Pierce, Niles,

tional Standard Comp poration of Michigan Application October 10,

12 Claims.

This invention relates to wire drawing machines and more particularly to means for cooling the capstans and dies in a multiple pass machine.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a wire drawing machine in which cooling liquid is uniformly circulated in intimate contact with the capstans to prevent them from becoming overheated and to have a cooling effect on the wire.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wire drawing machine in which the dies are cooled by circulation of cooling liquid in contact therewith.

Still another object is to provide accurate control of the circulation of the cooling liquid to the dies and capstans. According to one important feature sight feeding devices are" provided in a position for ready observation by an operator to show the amount of cooling liquid circulating through the several dies and capstans.

Other objects and advantages of the invention including desirable subcombinations and structural features will be apparent from the following description of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation with parts broken away and omitted of a wire drawing machine embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a section substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged partial section of a capstan; and

Figure 4 is a section on ure 3.

The drawings illustrate a three pass wire drawing machine comprising a frame I made up of standard structural steel shapes welded or otherwise suitably fastened together and formed with upperand lower platforms l2 and I4. Motors is are mounted on the platform l2 and drive shafts i8 through suitable V belts or the like 20.

The shafts l8 are suitably geared to shafts 22 carrying capstans 24 arranged in a vertical plane along the front of the machine, the gearing being arranged to drive each capstan at a higher average speed than the preceding one to take up elongation of the wire due-to the successive drawing operations. Each capstan is formed with a cylindrical peripheral surface and has at its edges flanges each of which merges into said surface on a wide radius. N

Each of the capstans has associated therewith a die .holder 26 containing a die positioned with its center in the lineof a vertical tangent to the th 1m 4-4 of Fl Q 35 v e e g Mich., assignor to Naany, Niles, Mich a cor- 1938, Serial No. 234,086 (Cl. 205-44) left side of the corresponding capstan. Th 'capstans rotate counterclockwise as seen in Figure 1 to draw the wire vertically downward through the dies, the wire entering the machine at the left and leaving it at the right.

Wire is fed into the machine from a suitable reel over a sheave 28 mounted on a fixed bracket 30 and having its right side vertically above the first die. From the first and second capstans the wire passes over sheaves 32 carried by blocks 34 which are slidably mounted on vertical guides 36. As best seen in Figure 2 the blocks are urged upwardly by cables or chains 38 passing over pulleys 4B and connected to weights 42, tension in the wire tending to pull the blocks down. Preferably each block is connected to suitable control mechanism for the motor of the next succeeding capstan to regulate the speed thereof.

From the last ca sheave 44 pivotally pstan the wire passes over a' carried by a block 46 slidable on vertical guides 48 and to a suitable windup" reel. The speed of the windup reel is preferably controlled by movement of the block 46.

During operation of the machine the dies and wire tend to become heated and the capstans are heated by contact with the hot wire. Therefore, according to the present invention, the dies and capstans are cooled by circulating a heat conducting liquid in contact therewith.

As shown, a water pipe 50 is run along the back of the machine at the top of the frame l0. Valves 52 open from this main and admit water to tubes 54 which lead to special fittings 56 at the rear ends of hollow shafts 22.

As best seen in Figure 3 the fitting 56 includes a tubular member 58 rotatably fitting into the bore in shaft 22 and provided with a packing gland 60 to prevent leakage therearound. Member 58 has a reduced central portion communi- 40 eating with a lubrication fitting 59 carried by the shaft 22. A tube 52 extends coaxially through the member 58 and shaft 22 and is supported at tl41e opposite end of the shaft by a packing gland 5 r Y 45 The capstans 24 are provided with Water jackets 66 divided by radial partitions 68 to insure circulation throughout the capstans. Water is introduced on one side of this partition by a pipe 10 connected to the gland 64 and is carried away 50 at the other side of the partition by a pipe 12 connected to the shaft 22. A pipe 74 on the fitting 56 communicates with the bore of shaft 22 around pipe 62 to conduct the water away. With this arrangement circulation of cooling water 5 uniformly around the entire capstan is insured.

The water jacket 66 is preferably provided directly under the place where the flange is faired into th peripheral surface, since it is at this 5 place that the greatest transfer of heat from the wireto the drum occurs.

Water is also conducted from the pipe 5i? through tubes 16 and valves I8 to the die holders 26 which are formed with passages for the circulation of water therethrough to cool the dies. As seen in Figure 1 the water enters the dies from the left and leaves at the right through tubes 80.

In order to inform an operator of the amount 'of water flowing through the several dies and capstans suitable sight gages are provided at the front portion of the frame ill. These sight gages as shown comprise open top receptacles 82 having bridges or supporting members 84 arranged across their tops and spaced upwardly therefrom. These supporting members carry the ends of tubes 14 and 80 which are arranged to discharge downwardly into the receptacles 82. .Rods 86 provided with hand wheels extend from the valves 52 to the front of the machine adjacent the sight gages tofacilitate operation of the valves.

At the bottom of the receptacles 82 drain pipes 88 extend to the rear of the machine and downwardly to a large pipe 90 which conducts the discharged water to waste or to suitatble recooling means.

In use the several valves 52 and 18 are opened to cause a circulation of cooling water through the die holders and capstans. The sight gages enable an operator to ascertain readily the amount of water circulating through each of the die holders and capstans and the arrangement of the valve controls adjacent the sight gages makes regulation of the water flow easy.

This application is a continuation inpart of my copending applications Serial Nos. 68,856-

55 on a wide radius and having an annular closed water-cooling passage directly beneath the portion where the flange merges into the cylindrical surface, a partition blocking said passage at one point, and radial inlet and outlet water conduits 60 opening into and from said passage on opposite sides of and adjacent said partition.

2. A wire drawing machine having a capstan provided with a water cooling circuit constructed in such a way that cold water is distributed even- 05 ly over the entire surface to be cooled, said, circuit including a closed annular passage just inside said surface and whichis blocked at one point by a partition, and radial inlet and outlet water conduits opening into and from said passage on- 70 opposite sides of and adjacent said partition.

3. A wire-drawing machine comprising a die, means for drawing the wire vertically downward through the die including a water-cooled capstan, means for circulating water into and through and 15 from the capstan, and means for circulating a liquid to and from the die, said two liquid circulating means including two sight feed devices arranged adjacent each other in a position for ready observation by the operator-of the machine.

4. A wire-drawing machine comprising a die, means for drawing the wire vertically downward through the die including a water-cooled capstan, means for circulating water to and from the capstan, and means for circulating a liquid to.

and from the die, said two liquid circulating means including two sight feed devices arranged adjacent each other in a position for ready observation by the operator of the machine, said devices comprising a common drain and means for delivering liquids from the two circulating means vertically aboveand into said drain.

5. A wire-drawing machine comprising a die, means for drawing the wire vertically downward through the die including a water-cooled capstan, means for circulating water to and from the capstan, and means for circulating a liquid to and from the die, said two liquid circulating means including two sight feed devices arranged adjacent each other in a position for ready observation by the operator of the machine, together with means controllable by the operator while ob-' serving said devices for varying the flow of said liquids.

6. A wire-drawing machine comprising a die, means for drawing the wire vertically'downward through the die including a water-cooled capstan, means for circulating water to and from the capstan, and means for circulating a liquid to and from the die, said two liquid circulating means including two-sight feed devices arranged adjacent each other in a position for ready observatiomby the operator of the machine, said devices comprising a common drain and means for delivering liquids from the two circulating means vertically above and into said drain, together with means controllable by the operator while observing said devices for varying the. flow of said liquids.

7. A wire-drawing machine comprising a die, means for drawing the wire vertically downward through the die including a water-cooled capstan, and means for circulating water to and from the capstan said liquid circulating means including a sight feed device arranged in a position for ready observation by the operator of the machine, said device comprising a drain and means for delivering liquid from the circulating means vertically above and into said drain.

8. A wire-drawing machine comprising a die, means for drawing the wire vertically downward through the die including a water-cooled capstan, and means for circulating water to and from the capstan said liquid circulating means including a sight feed device arranged in a position for ready observation by the operator of the machine, together with means controllable by the operator while observing said device for varying the flow of said liquid.

9. A Wire-drawing machine comprising a die, means for drawing the wire vertically downward through the die including a water-cooled capstan, and means for circulating water to and from the capstan, said liquid circulating means including a sight feed device arranged in a position for ready observation by the operator of the machine, said device comprising a drain and means for delivering liquid from the circulating means vertically above and into said drain, together with means controllable by the operator while observing said device for varying the flow of said liquid.

10. A wire-drawing machine comprising a die, means for drawing the wire vertically downward through the die, and means for circulating a liquid to and from the die and which includes a sight feed device arranged in a position for ready observation by the operator of the machine while he is also observing the passage of the wire through the die, together with means controllable by the operator while observing said device for varying the flow of said liquid.

11. A Wire-drawing machine comprising a die, means for drawing the wire vertically downward through the die, and means for circulating a liquid to and from the die and which includes a sight feed device arranged in a position for ready observation by the operator of the machine while he is also observing the passage of the wire through the die, said device comprising a drain and means for delivering liquid from the circulating means vertically above and into said drain, together with means controllable by the operator while observing said device for varying the flow of said liquid.

12. A wire-drawing machine comprising a die, means for drawing the wire through the die comprising a jacketed capstan, a radial partition in the jacket, an inlet pipe connected to one side of the 'partition and an outlet pipe connected to the other side of the partition, and liquid circulating means connected to said pipes and including a sight feed device arranged in a position for ready observation by the operator of the 15 machine.

ROBERT C. PIERCE. 

